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Jan 19, 2023Liked by 3musesmerge

George Carlin: โ€œWhy do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?โ€ ๐Ÿ˜

I somehow always thought there was a special, exotic sort of bread out there that required extreme measures to turn into toast.

Also possible that toaster designers are just lazy, of course.

BTW, despite not being on many dates in my youth, I long ago learned that the proper response to, โ€œOh, I donโ€™t want any fries, Iโ€™ll just have a couple of yours,โ€ is to increase the size of my fries order from regular to large.

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Thalia is winging her way out east! ๐Ÿ˜‚

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Perhaps the charcoal from super toasted toast is the proper remedy for onion rings.๐Ÿค”

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A charcoal chaser? Sounds like a deterrent.

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Absorbs toxins. ๐Ÿ˜‰

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I'll take your word for it!

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Technically, poison control centers use โ€œactivatedโ€ charcoal. The result of collecting carbon by scraping the badly burned bagels... ๐Ÿค”

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Minding our own business is calorie-free. Love it! Is there supposed to be an image of Chris' book?

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I didnโ€™t insert an imageโ€ฆ just the Amazon link. I didnโ€™t think of a picture. ๐Ÿค”

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Got it. The link works just fine!

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Onion rings and fries? Oh my!๐Ÿ˜ฑ

Some cultures have long established rituals for grieving the departed. As a child the โ€œritualโ€ seemed to be go to church for the funeral service (open casket barring a gruesome end๐Ÿค”) then move on to the fellowship hall to eat a lot. ๐Ÿคท๐Ÿฝ

In my more recent adult life, celebrations of life seem more connected with the recently departed and human in their tone.

I smiled reading your note about Chris Palmore and your having produced illustrations for his book. I remember as your first book, Wandering Words, took shape our exchange about illustrators and the expense. Even in black and white!

Outgrowing our younger liking of onion rings seems an apt metaphor for growing and maturing into our adult lives. Please donโ€™t tell Thalia I said that! You perhaps could share with her Billy Joelโ€™s lyric: โ€œI love you just the way you are.โ€ ๐Ÿ˜

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My mother's funeral was exactly as you described from your childhood. I long ago gave myself a pass on funeral attendance obligations. There are only so many wounds we can heal in a lifetime?

I confess I have not outgrown onion rings and fries, although my digestion has. Occasionally I accept the belly ache as payment for the thrill.

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